Britain's Andy Murray primed for US Open challenge

Britain's Andy Murray says he is fit and raring to go as he targets a maiden Grand Slam title at the US Open.

Murray struggled in the heat in his last tournament in Cincinnati, losing to Mardy Fish in the quarter-finals.

"I feel good," Murray told BBC 5 live. "I've had a good few weeks so in terms of match fitness I feel good."

Murray will not play his opening match in New York against Lukas Lacko until Tuesday but five-time champion Roger Federer will be in action on Monday.

The number two seed will play Argentine Brian Dabul in the second of two evening matches in the Arthur Ashe Stadium, following Venus Williams against Italian Roberta Vinci which starts at 1900 local time (0000 BST on Tuesday).
Other leading men in action on Monday are fifth seed Robin Soderling, who is second on the Grandstand court against Austrian Andreas Haider-Maurer, and sixth seed Nikolay Davydenko, who opens proceedings at 1100 (1600 BST) on the Louis Armstrong Stadium against American Michael Russell.

Ninth seed Andy Roddick plays Frenchman Stephane Robert in the third match on Arthur Ashe Stadium, while 2001 champion Lleyton Hewitt concludes proceedings on the Louis Armstrong Stadium against Frenchman Paul-Henri Mathieu at 1700 (2200 BST)

Number one seed Rafael Nadal and number three seed Novak Djokovic will, like Murray, play their opening matches on Tuesday.

Murray, the world number four, was a losing finalist at Flushing Meadows in 2008..
He enters the fourth and final Grand Slam of the year in good form having defended his Masters title in Toronto earlier this month, beating Nadal and Federer in consecutive matches.

"It definitely helped, it was good for the confidence," said the 23-year-old Scot.

"I always enjoying playing here, New York is obviously a fun city to come to. I've been here a week now and I feel good."

The US Open is the only Grand Slam which has so far evaded Nadal.

The Spaniard would become only the seventh man in history to win all four major titles with victory in New York, but the 24-year-old insists he is not obsessing over such a feat.

"I want to win here but without obsession," said Nadal.

"I'm more than happy with what I have, all the tournaments I've won, it's more than what I have dreamt of.

"For sure my personal satisfaction is going to be high if I win here, but the final of Roland Garros was very important to win again having lost the year before [in the fourth round to Robin Soderling].
"I won again at Wimbledon and it was amazing to win both tournaments."

Nadal has never reached a final in seven appearances at Flushing Meadows, but made the semi-finals in the past two years and can reflect on the fact that he lost two Wimbledon finals before making his breakthrough at the All England Club in 2008.

The conditions in New York do not suit Nadal's game and he admitted: "The ball is softer, I don't get the top spin I play with but I am playing better and better in this tournament.

"On the centre court [Arthur Ashe Stadium] there is always a lot of wind and sometimes against the wind it feels like you are not moving the ball.

"But when you are in the semi-finals the last two years, why not? I won in Australia too and I always thought it would be easier to play well here than Wimbledon."
Federer, meanwhile, says he would love to face Nadal for the first time at the US Open this year - an outcome which would see the top two seeds contesting the final.

Surprisingly, the pair have never met in New York, despite having won 20 of the last 23 Grand Slam titles between them.

With Nadal seeded first and Federer, who has won the US Open five times, second, they can only meet in the final on 12 September.

"I think it would be great to play Rafa here," said the Swiss maestro.

"We have played in all the other majors but this one is missing. I hope we can do it this year, but if not we will both be around a little longer.

"I would love to play him but it can only be the final so we have some work to do first."

It is the first time since 2005 that Federer is not the defending champion at Flushing Meadows, his final loss to Juan Martin del Potro 12 months ago ending a five-year winning streak.

"I look back at the last six years and I've been incredibly successful," Federer noted.

"Defending champion or not does not change a whole lot. There's a few less points to defend but I don't lose any sleep over that.

"Maybe there's an extra incentive after being just two points away last year. I felt that was one of the finals I should never have lost so it was very disappointing."